Outside enclosure?

emjay · 08-04-2011, 01:01 PM

Well after work i'm trotting off to B&Q to buy everything I need to make Harry's outside enclosure. I was just wondering if I need to get something (like plastic coated chicken wire) to stop him digging all the way down and out? I don't know if he would be capable of digging that deep or not? What do you think? He digs a little around his indoor enclosure but mainly just enough in the corner to get himself comfy to go to sleep (head and front legs down, backside sticking right up), i'll obviously get something to cover the top to stop wildlife getting in and Harry flipping himself over the top, as he does love to climb, but just worried about the bottom. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks x

burnt toast · 08-04-2011, 01:11 PM

What species is he Emma? Personally I would put something under, as well as stopping Harry escaping it would stop predators getting access to him.
(If he is a horsefield he must have something under)

emjay · 08-04-2011, 01:15 PM

Yep, he's a pesky horsefield!! Do you think something like chicken wire, or would garden membrane or perhap strawberry netting do? Don't want him catching his claws.

burnt toast · 08-04-2011, 01:34 PM

I wouldnt use netting - I could see him getting wrapped up in it. Some people actually dig out the area & line with concrete slabs, allowing gaps for drainage. I personally used a plastic coated mesh from Wilkinson approx £14 for a big wide roll. followed by weed fabric.

emjay · 08-04-2011, 01:39 PM

Thank you x

burnt toast · 08-04-2011, 01:44 PM

Your welcome. I probably wouldnt have bothered as I thought Hermans didnt dig but watching a very tiny one I had a few years back I suspected she might & sure enough when I put her outside, she paced round the perimeter a few times, then dug a tunnel right next to the edge & was up & out in no time & so tiny a bird would have had her in no time. So needless to say I wouldnt take a chace now.

wigwamman · 08-04-2011, 06:22 PM

its always best to over engineer your outside enclosure,it saves you digging it all up and doing it again.
better to be safe than sorry with horsefields.

kkenny · 08-04-2011, 07:15 PM

I have just finished the base of mine and used regular chicken wire, it will be well covered so i dont think it has to be plastic covered

**16 shells** · 08-04-2011, 07:43 PM

Chicken wire or land fabric or paver's should do, the fabric if used can be doubled or tripled if wanted.

Steph37 · 08-04-2011, 10:55 PM

That's why I keep my Horsfields on the patio! This year I've bought a raised vegetable bed so that its still on patio but can plant it up with soil and plants. Just trying to work out which age/sex of horsfield to put where-their synamics have changed since last year! Steph

08-04-2011, 01:01 PM	#1
emjay Junior Member Egg Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 23	Outside enclosure? Well after work i'm trotting off to B&Q to buy everything I need to make Harry's outside enclosure. I was just wondering if I need to get something (like plastic coated chicken wire) to stop him digging all the way down and out? I don't know if he would be capable of digging that deep or not? What do you think? He digs a little around his indoor enclosure but mainly just enough in the corner to get himself comfy to go to sleep (head and front legs down, backside sticking right up), i'll obviously get something to cover the top to stop wildlife getting in and Harry flipping himself over the top, as he does love to climb, but just worried about the bottom. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks x

08-04-2011, 07:15 PM	#8
kkenny Senior Member Sub Adult Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Warwick Posts: 1,303	I have just finished the base of mine and used regular chicken wire, it will be well covered so i dont think it has to be plastic covered __________________ Karin Spartacus, THB, March 2013 Henry, THB, July 2008

08-04-2011, 07:43 PM	#9
16 shells Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hull Posts: 7,286	Chicken wire or land fabric or paver's should do, the fabric if used can be doubled or tripled if wanted. __________________ Paul.

08-04-2011, 01:11 PM	#2
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,246	What species is he Emma? Personally I would put something under, as well as stopping Harry escaping it would stop predators getting access to him. (If he is a horsefield he must have something under)

08-04-2011, 01:15 PM	#3
emjay Junior Member Egg Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 23	Yep, he's a pesky horsefield!! Do you think something like chicken wire, or would garden membrane or perhap strawberry netting do? Don't want him catching his claws.

08-04-2011, 01:34 PM	#4
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,246	I wouldnt use netting - I could see him getting wrapped up in it. Some people actually dig out the area & line with concrete slabs, allowing gaps for drainage. I personally used a plastic coated mesh from Wilkinson approx £14 for a big wide roll. followed by weed fabric.

08-04-2011, 01:39 PM	#5
emjay Junior Member Egg Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 23	Thank you x

08-04-2011, 01:44 PM	#6
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,246	Your welcome. I probably wouldnt have bothered as I thought Hermans didnt dig but watching a very tiny one I had a few years back I suspected she might & sure enough when I put her outside, she paced round the perimeter a few times, then dug a tunnel right next to the edge & was up & out in no time & so tiny a bird would have had her in no time. So needless to say I wouldnt take a chace now.

08-04-2011, 06:22 PM	#7
wigwamman Member Juvenile Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: west midlands Posts: 800	its always best to over engineer your outside enclosure,it saves you digging it all up and doing it again. better to be safe than sorry with horsefields.

08-04-2011, 10:55 PM	#10
Steph37 Member Hatched Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 361	That's why I keep my Horsfields on the patio! This year I've bought a raised vegetable bed so that its still on patio but can plant it up with soil and plants. Just trying to work out which age/sex of horsfield to put where-their synamics have changed since last year! Steph

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